[Amazing] 25 Benefits To Eating Chocolate That Will Ease Your Guilt
Chocolate is arguably the most popular treat in the world, and there is a good chance that you love this sweet delicacy, too. We all know that eating too much of it is bad for our health, but we usually cannot help but gulp down lots of it anyway. To help you overcome the terrible feelings of guilt you might have after indulging, we have focused on chocolate’s good and healthy properties as we compiled this post with 25 benefits you will receive by eating this yummy treat. You might know that it – when eaten in reasonable quantity – is good for your heart and brain functions, but we are sure there are many benefits that you did not know about before. From its positive effects on our skin and sight to its ability to prevent diabetes and the Alzheimer’s Disease, learn how to justify your heavy consumption with these 25 Benefits To Eating Chocolate That Will Ease Your Guilt.
P.S.: Most of these benefits only apply to dark varieties; sorry white and milk chocolate lovers.
Chocolate is a great source of energy. For example, just one chocolate chip can give you enough energy to walk 150 feet (46 meters).
Source: twitter.com, image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Semi-sweet_chocolate_chips.jpg
Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, a naturally occurring amino-acid which is believed to have aphrodisiacal effects and is even said to be able to cure a hangover.
Source: ezinearticles.com, image: https://static.pexels.com/photos/18397/pexels-photo.jpg
Dark chocolate is believed to be able to improve your ability to see in low-contrast situations, such as in poor weather.
Source: nbcnews.com, image: https://static.pexels.com/photos/39811/pexels-photo-39811.jpeg
Chocolate contains tryptophan, which helps create serotonin, a neurotransmitter that is thought to cause feelings of well-being and happiness.
Source: wikipedia.org, image: https://static.pexels.com/photos/40815/youth-active-jump-happy-40815.jpeg
Chocolate improves the brain's blood supply and dilates blood vessels, which is what we need before any mental activity.
Source: brightside.me, image: https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1116/752175151_961a25e5f4_b.jpg
According to new scientific studies, eating chocolate can prevent pregnancy problems. The chemical theobromine found in chocolate may reduce preeclampsia, a major pregnancy complication.
Source: cnn.com, image: https://static.pexels.com/photos/57529/pexels-photo-57529.jpeg
Looking for another reason to indulge in chocolate while expecting? Check out number 3!
Chocolate is full of antioxidants, especially dark chocolate which is rich in flavenoids – antioxidants that help prevent heart diseases.
Source: uptownmagazine.com, image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b7/Dark_chocolate_bar.jpg
Recent scientific study has also figured out that flavenoids contained in dark chocolate might help protect you from sunburn.
Source: huffingtonpost.com, image: https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4141/4745212376_70ba87ee2b_b.jpg
Dark chocolate helps restore flexibility to arteries while also preventing white blood cells from sticking to the walls of blood vessels - both common causes of artery clogging.
Source: telegraph.co.uk, image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Compound_chocolate.jpg
A 100 g (3.5 oz) bar of dark chocolate with 70% to 85% cacao solids contains 98% of your Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of Manganese, 67% of your RDA of Iron, and 58% of your RDA of Magnesium.
Source: nutritionsecrets.com, image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Dark_chocolate_Blanxart.jpg
According to a study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology, people who consumed more chocolate reported feeling calmer than those who didn’t. So now it's official - chocolate is a stress reliever.
Source: huffingtonpost.com, image: https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8068/8219609037_f6ea8abac3_b.jpg
Chocolate's vasodilator properties help you lower your blood pressure.
Source: brightside.me, image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Blood_pressure_measurement_(2009).jpg
Another great property attributed to phenylethylamine, a chemical contained in dark chocolate, is the ability to produce the feeling of ‘being in love’.
Source: nutritionsecrets.com, image: https://static.pexels.com/photos/5390/sunset-hands-love-woman.jpg
If you enjoy art as much as you enjoy chocolate, take a look at 25 Crazy Things People Have Made From Chocolate.
Dark chocolate may significantly improve cognitive function in elderly people with mental impairment. It also improves their verbal fluency.
Source: authoritynutrition.com, image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2015/01/29/22/25/old-people-616718_960_720.jpg
Chocolate's flavonoids are thought to have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties; therefore, they can help reduce the incidence of colds and boost immunity.
Source: adelaidenow.com.au, image: http://res.freestockphotos.biz/pictures/15/15397-a-healthy-young-man-running-on-a-treadmill-in-a-gym-pv.jpg
As surprising as it might sound, chocolate can protect our teeth. Cocoa butter covers teeth with a thin protective film that impedes bacteria growth.
Source: brightside.me, image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Teeth_2.JPG
Even more shockingly, chocolate can actually prevent diabetes. Cocoa has been known to improve insulin sensitivity, which means dark chocolate might delay or prevent the onset of diabetes.
Source: telegraph.co.uk, image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2014/11/12/19/25/diabetes-528678_960_720.jpg
Chocolate can also help you keep your weight off. A research study found that those who ate chocolate regularly had a lower BMI than those who didn’t. It is believed to be caused by the fact that the calories in chocolate make the body’s metabolism work harder.
Source: adelaidenow.com.au, image: http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/pictures/10000/velka/1-1267027352CK1k.jpg
Chocolate is a good source of several important Vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, and E.
Source: brightside.me, image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2014/11/30/10/48/chocolate-551424_960_720.jpg
A study found that theobromine contained in chocolate quieted coughs almost as well as codeine. Moreover, chocolate had none of the negative side effects codeine had, and it tasted incomparably better.
Source: womenshealthmag.com, image: shutterstock
A scientific study found out that regular chocolate consumption lowers the risk of suffering a heart stroke by a staggering 17%.
Source: telegraph.co.uk, image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/06/05/14/15/body-116585_960_720.jpg
Dark chocolate has positive effects on skin. It increases its density and hydration.
Source: authoritynutrition.com, image: https://static.pexels.com/photos/3192/woman-girl-beauty-mask.jpg
A Finnish study found that chocolate reduced stress in expectant mothers and that the babies of such mothers smiled more often than the offspring of non-chocolate-eating parents.
Source: telegraph.co.uk, image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/03/11/02/11/baby-1249613_960_720.jpg
A Harvard study has found that a daily dose of chocolate may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: nutritionsecrets.com, image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2013/04/04/06/42/dependent-100343_960_720.jpg
Dark chocolate contains certain compounds that may be beneficial in the treatment of migraines.
Source: feelhappiness.com, image: https://pixabay.com/static/uploads/photo/2016/07/30/19/42/headache-1557812_960_720.jpg
Need more chocolate (facts)? Check out 25 Delicious Chocolate Facts You Won’t Be Able To Resist.
